node.js - What's the difference between tilde(~) and caret(^) in package.json?

After I upgraded to latest stable node and npm, I tried npm install moment --save. It saves the entry in the package.json with the caret ^ prefix. Previously, it was a tilde ~ prefix.

1. Why are these changes made in npm?


2. What is the difference between tilde ~ and caret ^?


3. What is the advantages over others?

Answer

See the NPM docs

~version “Approximately equivalent to version”, will update you to the next patch version. See semver. ~1.2.3 will use releases from 1.2.3 to <1.3.0.

^version Will update you to the next minor version. See semver. ^2.3.4 will use releases up to 3.0.0. See Comments below.